Title-winning Lady Bulldogs prove stacked arsenal as Jardio, Alinsug named co-Finals MVPs

MANILA, Philippines -- Heroes aplenty for the National University Lady Bulldogs.

Not one, but two co-Finals Most Valuable Players were named for NU in their successful title defense against the La Salle Lady Spikers.

Libero Shaira Jardio and winger Vange Alinsug received the same citation for NU, for bringing in the offensive punch and the defensive prowess in the two-game sweep over the Lady Spikers.

Alinsug averaged 15.5 points in the two-game series, while Jardio 19.5 digs and 20.0 receptions in the finals.

After the championship-clinching Game 2, the two voiced readiness to lead the team moving forward, with main guns Alyssa Solomon and back-to-back Season MVP Bella Belen moving on from the collegiate game.

“Sa akin, sobrang laki [ng confidence boost] kasi gusto ko din i-lead yung team namin. So parang yung finals na to na naging finals MVP nga ako at saka si Vange, siguro ito yun na yung time na i-lead namin yung team kasi mawawala na yung seniors namin,” Jardio told reporters after the game.

Belen and Solomon are expected to turn pro after four eventful seasons in the UAAP.

The team, led by the two stalwarts, won three championships in four years.

Alinsug, who finished the match off with two kills, said that she is welcoming her role as a leader, with or without an award.

“For me naman, may award man ako o wala, still, kami pa rin yung magli-leader sa susunod. Kaya ano lang, room for improvements lang talaga kasi mahaba-haba pa talaga,” she said.

“Pero ngayon enjoy lang namin itong panalo with the senior citizens,” she added, in jest.

Alinsug further stated that it will be a huge responsibility leading the team, especially with the departures of Solomon and Belen.

“Kahit sobrang hirap nilang palitan, madami pang buwan, para pagtrabahuhan namin yun na kami-kami na lang and gawin namin silang inspiration,” she said.

For his part, debuting NU head coach Sherwin Meneses said that while the coaching staff sees the two as the best players of the finals, the whole team, for him, is the MVP.

“Yung panalo ngayon, pati sa Game 1, talagang sobrang team effort talaga yung nangyari,” Meneses said.